Foldable table-spread support.



No. 694,438 Patented Mar. 4, I902.

I m. L. smm.

FOLDABLE TABLE SPREAD SUPPORT.

(Application filed Nov. 18, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN L. SMITH, or ELWELL, IowA.

FOLDABLE TABLE-S PREAD SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 694,438, dated March4, 1902 Application filed November 18, 1901. Serial No. 82,646. (Nomodel.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN L. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Elwell, in the county of Story and State of Iowa, haveinvented a new and useful Foldable Table- Spread Support, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My object is to provide a neat, strong, and durable support for a clothspread over a table to conceal and protect food from insects and dustwhenever desired without removing the dishes and in such a manner thatthe flexible material used as a spread and cover will not sag andcontact with food to become soiled therewith.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combinationof parts in such a manner that the complete device can be readily foldedwhen not in'use and also readily opened to be placed on a table andadjusted relative to dishes thereon, as hereinafter set forth. 1

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 shows the form of the main part ofthe device with which the adjustable parts are pivotally connected. Fig.2 shows the device opened and extended as required to rest upon a tableor other flat surface for supporting a flexible spread. Fig. 3 is anenlarged transverse sectional view on the line w x of Fig. 1, showingthe three parts pivotally connected. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional Viewof the main part adapted for pivotally connecting the adjustable partstherewith.

The letter A designates a frame made of a single length of wire. Aportion of it is bent into a coil to produce a tube B, and an adjoiningportion is bent into a helical coil to produce a flange C, and the endportion terminates in an arch D, preferably of angular shape, as shownin Figs..1 and l. The lower coil at the bottom of the tube B is loweredto admit the ends of the adjustable parts and to retain them pivotallyconnected with the tube B. The wire, extending laterally from the lowercoil, is bent into form of a double curve D and then extended a straightlength F, that preferably terminates in concentric curves H and H fromwhich is extended outward and downward a double-curved portion J, thatterminates in a coil J adapted to serve as a foot when the completedevice is placed on a table.

A and A are duplicates of the main frame A, excepting that at one endthey terminate .in right-angled extensions K, adapted to be passedupward into the tube B to serve as pivots.

1 It is obvious the size and weight of the wire from which the framesare made and their lengths may vary as required to produce differentsizes of spread-supports. It is also obvious that the portionsconsisting of the concentric curvesH and H may varyin shape as requiredto produce various forms, plain and ornamental.

To adjustably connect the parts A and A with the part A, it is onlynecessary to slip their right-angled extension ,K into the lower end ofthe tube B as required to be retained by the lower coil, as shown inFigs. 1 and 4.

The arched end portion of the part A is adapted for use as a finger-holdand also as a loop for hanging the device on a fixed nail or hook. I 7 5Having thus described the purpose and construction of my invention andthe manner of its use, its practical operation and utility will bereadily understood by persons of ordinaryintelligence, and what I claimas new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A flexible support for a cloth spread over a a table, comprising amain part in the form of a frame made of wire and one end portion coiledinto a tube to project upward and the other portion extendedhorizontally and downward and a plurality of mating wire frames thathave right-angled extensions extended in the tube and pivotallyconnected with the said tube at the end of said main 0- part, to operatein the manner set forth for the purposes stated.

2. A foldable and adjustable support for a flexible spread on a tableconsisting of a main part made of wire and a port of the wire coiled toproduce a tube projec 'ng upward a convolute coil or flange at the topof the tube and terminating in a loop or arch, double curve at the lowerend of said tube and then a straight length that terminates in a n\1oaoutward and downward ornamental extension and a plurality of mating wireframeshaving right-angled projections at their top ends'extended intothe tube at the end of the main part, arranged and combined in themanner set forth for the purposes stated.

. MARTIN L. SMITH.

Witnesses:

G. E. GOUGHNOUR, C. H. DIoKEY.

